Intercultural Talk had a chance to catch up today with Lynn Walker, Interim President at Truman College in Chicago, to talk about how she draws upon intercultural communications skills to lead a 10,000+ student organization with students from over 100 different countries.
Her leadership role requires the ability to shift from speaking to administrators, students, community members, government leaders and more from moment to moment throughout the day.
Also known as “code-switching,” Walker credits a focus on Servant-based leadership–putting the needs of those she is serving first–plus being genuine at heart, as feeding her success.
Funny, those are the same skills that drive great intercultural communications competence: know thyself first, and learn to be attuned to the styles others.
Okay, and she does give an unsolicited plug to ask for help from professionals (like me), when in doubt.
What are your secrets to successful, intercultural leadership?
